Of Interviews and Disney Trips

So last week I had my babysitting interview. First let me say that I don’t think I got the job, not that I think i would take it if I did. The couple seemed very uninterested in me and the mom was just watching the TV for the whole time. I was only asked about 4 questions and it took longer to get there than the amount of time I actually stayed there.

So yeah, I doubt it.

The rest of the school week was okay. Animation went well. In Concept my teacher actually got really excited about some of my ideas which bearly ever happens.

Design. Now that was interesting.

We’re doing these music videos for a band called Birthday Massacre, a gothic rock band. It’s actually a contest that they posted for someone to make them a music video for a song from their newest album. 

Anyway, on Friday story boards were due. I put up mine with about 70 boards while others had 20ish (though each song is about 4 minutes.) Mine were talked about in length since is was the most thought out, dictated, and I was working on my own. They all think I can get it done (even though it is a crazy big bite if work) and they all promised my teacher to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t go crazy.

Page 3 of 12 in my boards.

Then came the weekend, and with it DISNEY WORLD!!!

My grandparents were taking my youngest cousins (8 and 3) to Disney after being on the Disney Cruise for a week and had asked if I wanted to join. 

Of course.

So Friday after class I left for Orlando and meet them for dinner at the Hoop-de-Doo where my Grandpa got chosen to play the part for an angel, a role my dad played a few years ago.

The next day we went to Magic Kingdom without my Grandma as she had been sick all week. But we had fun anyway and Oliver (3) was pretty well behaved. Erica (8) had an appointment at 11 to be turned into a princess as I went exploring with my Aunt and Uncle for 2 hours before we all met up again at 1 for lunch with the princesses at the castle.

Snow White visited us at our table and even gave Oliver a kiss.

After that we headed over to Epcot and I was annoyed that the new version of Test Track was already out of fast passes and the line was 190 minutes long for stand by. Sorry, but no. I was able to convince my cousin to try Mission: Space - the less intense version and she loved it. She then got my Grandpa to go on with her a second time. After that, Figment, and Spaceship Earth we had dinner at the Land and the little ones were ready to crash.

We dropped the kids off at the hotel and I headed back to Magic Kingdom with my Aunt and Uncle as it was open until 1am. My Uncle had never been to Disney and my Aunt hadn’t been since the 80’s or something so it was fun, though they were confused as to why I was acting so weird. What can I say, I’m more tempered when I’m watching over people, but have me alone in Disney and I’ll act like the kid I am.

It was exhausting and my feet hurt but Sunday was not a day to rest as I had to drive back to school, do animation, concept, do some reading and cook Sunday night dinner (Megan’s Birthday - ravioli).

But I had fun, and I got it all done, so no harm no foul.

Things Are Looking Up

So after the horrible week before, things are finally starting to look better.

After a day filled with nothing but reading, last Sunday was work. I got up early for a weekend and went to the labs to do animation work and was thankfully able to finish before 3:30 when others were getting there.

Sunday dinner was pushed up to 5:45 because of the Supper Bowl at 6:30 that I wanted to see even if no one else did. So I made something simple and traditional for my family football dinners: pepperoni bread.

Everyone loved it and I was glade I made three long logs of it (though one was just cheese). But that wasn’t the best part of the day.

Brenna was back.

She came hobbling in a cupel minutes late just as we though someone should go to walk with her. She’s got a cane now and has to give herself daily injections for at least 6 months. As thin as ever and looks even more tiered than normal, but alive. 

According to the doctors, another hour and she would be dead. I can thank God that she was at her Aunt’s house that weekend because if she was here, no one would have noticed. Living in a single room has perks, but no one would know...

Enough sad.

Back to the good stuff.

Artists’ Books is going great! We just made 3 new hard cover books and they look so great. I can hardly believe I made it when it looks so real!

Animation is also up there. We’re almost done this project were we’re animating the CARTOON NETWORK and NICKELODEON titles on screen. Joe normally only tells you what’s wrong during process critiques, but other than a few comments he has actually been talking about what he loves!

One of my CN ideas.

On top of that Disney Imagineers came to the school to talk about their different internships. I can’t apply since they only accept 3rd years minimum, but I got to talk to them about a model making internship and got their contact information. Now I have them on LinkedIn and I even found my favorite High School teacher, Mr. Alten!

This week I also started volunteering at a local community center to tutor and help kids with their homework. I’ll be going once or twice a week to help out - though I have to brush up on my math...

And on top of all that I got an interview! I had signed up onto an site to find babysitters and caretakers (care.com) over a year ago with an idea to get a local babysitting job. I apply often to ones that work in my schedule but never got a reply.

But I just checked my email and there was a message received an hour ago asking if I was still interested! I was so excited that I replied right away to schedule an interview from their times. So on Wednesday at 3:30 I meet a couple and their 2 kids. I would love for this to work out. 

I’ll let you know how it goes. Promise.

When It Rains, It Pours

Really this has not been a fun week.

After kicking it off with Brenna in the hospital (she’s doing fine by the way) the week was moving like normal. Once night I was finishing up some work at the table when Garrett came in to hang out with Kortney. Nothing new there.

Yeah right.

I honestly think they forgot I was there as they started talking. I started hearing words like “treatment,” “last time,” and “leaving.” After nearly 2 hours of this I figured out that Garrett had bin told he has cancer and was to go to an appointment the next day to discuss treatment. 

The argument for the first 2 hours was if he should get it or not. He said he should just die and Kortney wanted him to live. It then became another 2 hours argument about touching and what they are to each other.

Seriously, I think they forgot I was there.

Millie, my other roommate, was absent for most of it. But around midnight when the 2 of us were in bed they were still going at it. I think they argued until around 2 or something.

I later found out that he was told he has ‘Hodgkin Lymphoma.’

Next was something we were expecting. 

My family raises puppies for the Seeing Eye and Wednesday was the day that Kramer, our first Golden Retriever, left. It’s sad but I honestly don’t think that he isn’t going to pass. 

Then something really bad happened.

My youngest sister got home from school yesterday. Mom was at work, Dad had been out all day. She went to use the water and nothing happened. When she went downstairs she was meet with nearly 4 feet of water.

It's so deep that the chairs float.

Somehow the main water heater broke and was leaking for who knows how long. It wouldn’t be too bad if the basement wasn’t finished. Now everything is ruined. The carpet, walls, furniture, piano, DVDs, game consoles, photo albums, family games, Dad’s set designs, Mom’s fashion show materials, Michael’s bed set. The list goes on for ages.

Things really aren’t looking good for this new year. Hopefully this is the last of the bad karma for the year.

Just When You Think You're Fine

A week has already gone by somehow, yet it seems like it’s only been 2 days....

Classes are really starting to pick up, kind of. Artists’ Books class is still a bit slow, but for now we’re working one our projects in class. I made a 2 inch tall Harry Potter out of only paper with arms, legs, cloak and all!

Animation is still the same as we have yet to move on from the ball bounce.

Concept actually went well. Our style frames for the Channel 4seven Ident was due on Thursday. I turned in 4 instead of 3 in hopes of extra credit since Jill doesn’t really like me. Most people were told to re-do them since she didn’t like any, or didn’t think the ideas were coming across right. But she actually picked one for me! On top of that is was one made only in photoshop -  something she told me I was horrible at last term and to not bother with!

The style frame the Jill loved. She actually said loves!

Design was odd since the class is split into 2 parts. For the Icon parts I was the only one in class who did the assignment right and didn’t have to re-shoot my image. For the Type part, I so did not do the assignment right....

The weekend came along with anime club, weekend homework, and SUnday dinner. This week was Broccoli Cavatelli and Cheddar Garlic Biscuits. It turned out great even though I was so confused I had to call my Aunt in the middle of prep. But Things worked out in the end and everyone just left to finish last minute work. 

In the end a good, if hectic, week.

Or so I thought.

As I write this I find out that my roommate from last year, one of the very few people I’m comfortable with here in Florida, was not where we all thought she was. 

Normally she is first to get here for Sunday Dinner. This evening I knew that there was a Leadership Meeting for Officers of clubs who ask for funding. Our friend Ben had to go so we all figured that she was there too.

Until Facebook updated.

“Day of firsts....First ride in an ambulance....First time I’m staying over night in a hospital...First time I miss dinner.”

What?

I texted her as she wasn’t answering the questions online. She was visiting her aunt in Tampa when she collapsed in the bathroom and couldn’t breath. An ambulance was called when they found life threatening blood clots in her lungs. 

Not good.

They took CTs and x-rays. She’s been put on an IV, oxygen, and blood thinners. Thankfully it seems to be getting rid of them, so extreme measures aren’t needed. They don’t know when she can leave though or what caused them in the first place yet.

So yeah, another week at art school......

In the Swing of Thing

Obviously it’s been weird trying to get back into the swing of doing classes and there blog updates. Sorry. I’ll try to be more regular.

Not much has been going on. I’m getting use to my new class schedule as well as my roommates. So far my favorite classes are Animation 2 and Artists’ Books. Least favorite is Concept 2. Big surprise.

So. What am I doing in this?

Well, in a class called Arts in Concept we’re comparing music and literature of a time period and sees how it evolves. Kind of cool.

Design 2 is split. Half the time we work on icons and the other half we work of type - this time with it animated and put to audio. The teacher is slowly turning into my favorite teacher here.

Animation 2 is cool since we finally started to work with a 3D animation program called Cinema 4D. Right now we’re finishing a ball bounce. Fun.

Concept 2. Jill. She and I just don’t click. On top of it all year we’re working on branding. Completely not a thing I’m interested in at all.

Artists’ Books is fun. Basically the class is book binding. Yeah, I took one at Moore College, but this on is more focused and has a smaller class. Currently our project is to take a book apart and use the parts to make a sculpture of something that reflects back to the book.

Other than that not much has happened.

I dragged a bunch of people out to Cold Stone the first week because I was craving it all day. 

Cold Stone after dinner.

Sunday night dinners started up the first week with just ordering pizza. Of course even though I call at 3 for a pick up at 4:45 they didn’t have it. Not that it wasn’t ready, but that they didn’t even put the order in so dinner was half hour late.

This late Sunday we celebrated Kevin’s Birthday since we missed it before. We had spaghetti, sauce, and meatball with some rolls and veggies. Then homemade ice cream cake and VEGAN chocolate almond “buttercream” cupcakes with raspberry glaze. Turned out well.

So yeah, not much yet, but things should be picking up soon.

Until later.

Winter's End - For Me at Least

Winter break is basically over now and since I’m about to go back to Florida and warm weather, the winter season is basically over as well for me.

I take off in less than 24 hours and for the first time ever I find that I’m not looking forward to the start of a new term. Normally around the last week I start to get excited and want classes to start and work to come. This year - nothing.

The break was fun, but crazy. Re-doing the house, intensive cleaning, catching up with friends, Christmas, shopping, visiting Philly, seeing my grandparents, going to the movies, New Years, bing with family, Seeing Eye puppy party, New York.... NEW YORK!

Okay, so my grandparents got us tickets to see Newsies on Broadway for Christmas so on Thursday we went up to meet them at my other grandparent’s house. (Dad’s mom hurt her back so my Mom’s Dad - a doctor too - was doing a house call). This way we could see my Dad’s parents before we left.

Anyway, we got up to New York and took a taxi to 51st and 5th - basically St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We toured the different alters to be warm then ventured outside to see the tree in front of Rockefeller Center. 

A few more blocks and we were at Broadway and where we were having dinner - the revolving restaurant called The View. It was really cool and the view was amazing along with the food.

We got out though with only 20 minutes before the play was to start. My siblings and I weaved through the crowds to get in line to enter and by the time our grandparents got there we were almost at the front.

The play was great! The boys were cute, they could sing and dance, and our seats were right in the middle in the 5th row of the ground floor. What a night.

Overall I have to say that it was a good break. Though if I could change anything it would be that day 2 weeks ago where I let Minnie (the cat) go outside. Not a day goes by without me regretting it. I’ve done everything to make it better - posters, Facebook search events, called all the vets in a 25 mile radius, had a friend search the animal shelters, looked in the back yard - she just needed to get to a human that would take her to a hospital. Honestly, between the cold and the storms we’re starting to give up and accept that she’s gone. I’ll still pray, but I don’t have high hopes.

Sorry, to end it on a sour note, but such is life. I hope if you’re in college that you too had a good break. And Happy Epiphany (All King’s Day - Jan 6th)

Christmas Week

Sorry for the lack of photos, my sister has yet to get them to me.

Anyway, Christmas with our families is crazy to say the least. 

The 23rd we did our normal Christmas Eve traditions at home which meant watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and doing gift exchange between siblings.

The 24th we woke up early to go up to my Mama-Lou’s house (Dad’s side of the family). With my Papa Tom not doing great anymore we went up early to help cook. We left to attend 4:30 mass at the church my parents got married in, then returned for dinner at 6 o’clock.

Being that this family is all Italian we had lots of sea food. Clams, muscles, oysters, scallop, shrimp, lobster, and cod. My one cousin is allergic to shell fish though so he had chicken made special for him and promised to eat it all - of course he didn’t realize that there was a second platter not on the table.

There was too much food in general, as normal, considering the 10 lobster. We only had 3 courses this year as opposed to the usual 4 and by the time everything was cleared and all the gifts opened it was around 11:15.

The next day was Christmas at my Grandma’s house (Mom’s family) and there started off on a not so good note as the power to the kitchen went off for nearly 2 hours early that morning after the turkey went in. Thankfully my dad was able to fix it and we all went down stairs to open the presents. (It’s very different in this family since here all our 1st cousins are much younger and on the other side we are all around the same age.)

Dinner was set to start at 12, but with the power problems earlier it was pushed back to 1. We then faced the question of seating. Originally we were only having about 25 people for dinner. Then the phones started ringing and by the time everything was said and done we had 43 people siting there (though those 16 and under were set up in the kitchen’s breakfast nook.) 

It was crazy let me tell you.

We left that night to go home and the next morning we had our Christmas Day at our house and sent the afternoon with each other.

Over the following week I meet up with my high school friend, my brother had lots of people over, we saw Les Miserables (was good), saw The Hobbit in 48 frames 3D (awesome), played lots of games and just had fun being together.

I hope everyone’s holidays were joyful and I wish you all a Happy New Year!